Automatic alining device for the car-couplings of railway-cars.



1, v. mama". AUTOMAIIC MINING DEHCE FOR THE CAR fiOUPLfNfiS 0F RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATIDM HLED JUNE I i, lSi'L KENEWEDEEPT. I 3. I957. 1,245,796.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- r 1.'v. nosmsou. 7

AUTOMATIC MINING DEVICE FOR THE (JAR COUPLINGS OF RAILWAY CARS'n APPLIC ATIOM EILED lU N E H, 914. RENWEDSEPT. X3. I911.

Patented Nov 6, 1.91 7.

4 SH'EETS- SHEET 2 FIG. 3.

' wmoeo l. V. ROBINSON];

AUTOMATIC MINING DEVICE FOR THE CAR COUPL'INGS 0E R MLWAY CA'RS.

Arrucmon min mu: I l. m4. RENEWED SEPT. 13. 1911.

1 ,245,796. Patented Nov. 6,1917.

4 SHEETSSHE ET '4.

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I I I i I i i 1 7 A? I I3 l 1 W3 [i L u w I l'vlAw/wfoa l projections, is of such extent that the body brac; member @f/and coupling head 14 innormah iiected witi the tie rod 21 looks thc 'abutmerit in position and constitutes the means for placing;,=i"he springs D under, the coinlplressign"rcqiiii'ed-'-to hold the flanges 17 x figa inst' the'projections 18 ofthe en nd-yield'iiigly maintain the body hcrizoiiia jla position.

The pressure of the springs D against said O cannot move laterally'or sidewise relative to the coupler, thou h it may move vertically relativethereto; whi e the-guiding prongs 13 are shifting opposing cerfcoup ers A and coupling heads 1 1 into as shown in Fig. 3. But after the.'couplers -andcou;

-pling heads are broughtjfin-to alineinent and the cars move into the kioupledposition, the body G and of course the coupling heads 14 move rearward-1y relative to the car coupler A, which operation will also move the flanges 17 away from the-projections 18 snf ficiently to permit universal movement of the various steam and air pipes of a car may coupling head 14 at 29fa-nd the couplingheads 14 relativewto the car couplers. Y Y

The automatic coupling of the usual train pipe hose I accomplish simultaneously with the coupling of the ears, by perforatingthe body G with a hollow curved. ltting or fluid conduit 30,- one B11d Qf ,-Wh1Cl1 1S pressed into the coupling head 14 and the other end of which received the usual train pipe hose 31,

as at 32'. A. suitable gasket 33 is mounted in the curved, fitting and is compressed as the carscouple, providing an efiicient and dependable jointwliich will be tight under .all conditions of service.

be readilyaccomplished by my improved alining device for car couplers, and I have 1 therefore produced a common means for automatically alining the car couplers of opposing cars and for automatically-"and simultaneously" connecting the train pipe hose of such cars.

- by United States Letters Patent is 1 Having thus described my said invention,

what I claim asinew and desire to secure 1. The combination with a car coupler, of an automatic train pipe connector for alin- -ing said coupler with a matingcoupler and for automatically connecting the train pipe hose of 'thecars czirrying-said couplers said connector comprising a coupling head. po-

sitionedz below said ca r coupler and provided with flaring guiding ineansfor gatliering said 'carz coupler. and inating coupler 1nto aliiie-meiit, a.-yieldable.member also below I said carcoiipler and by which said coupling head iscarri'edrand means for locking said :member fiagainst lateral movement relative tending forwardly;

roviding' the In this manner automatic connection of y means, a meniber'yielda Yt-ive to said car coupler, Whenthe-latter is vengaged a mating coupler =and'b'y which for automatically connecting t e train pipe hosevof the ars mrryingjsai'dcouplers, said a bracket secured to connector com-Pris" p I said carj couplei an extending therebelow, and amember-below the car coupler and exof said bracket and carryend, the, member being in a coupling a apted under certain conditions to. move universally relati'ye-to said cart coupler and under other conditions to move only in the vertical plane relative to said car coupler, whereby said coupler is alined with the mating coupler in service.

3. The combination with a car coupler,- of an EllltOlllfltlCfi'ELlIl PIPGCOHIIBCtOI'fOI{11111-1 'ing said couplerwitlifa mating,- coupler and for automatically 'co'nnecting'the train pipe hose,- of the cars carrying said couplers,

said connector comprisingsuitabl'e uid'ing means, a memberyieldableuniversal y "rela tive to said car coupler-,"when-the latter .is"

engaged by wanting coupler and by which said guidingmeans are carried and means for resisting,- when, said coupler'isnncoi s pled; the lateral movement of said member sufliciently. to cause said car coupler to be shifted 'iiitoalinement with said mating conpler when saidz guiding means engage ti;

4. The combination w-ith'a car coupler; of

an automatic train pipe connector for alining said coupler-With a matin' for j-automatically connecting t '100 coupler and r e train pipe.

hose of the cars carrying said cou lers,'-

said connector comprising suitable-guiding g b e universally re1 a-* said guiding means are carried, means for -..5. The combination with a-. oar coupler,-

of an automatic train pipe-connector for aliningsaid coupler with a mating coupler and for automatically connecting the train pipe hose of the cars carry ng said couplers said connector coiiip-risinga bracket secured tosaidcarcouplerand positioned therebelow a member also below said car. coupler and extending. forwardlyof. said bracket,-

and a spring for resisting. whensaid coupler is uncoupled, .t-l'ie lateralmoveinent of said member sufii'ciently to cause the coupler tobe shifted into aline neiit with said natconnector comprismg a bracket secured to said car coupler and positioned therebelow, a member also below said car coupler and extending forwardly of said bracket, and a spring at the rear of said bracket and acting against said member for resisting, whensaid coupler is uncoupled, the lateral movement of said member sufficiently to cause the coupler to be shifted into alinement with said mating coupler when said guiding means engage on a curve, said member being yieldable relative to the coupler when the latter is engaged by a mating coupler.

T. The combination with a car coupler. of

an automatic train pipe connector for alin- 'ing said coupler with a mating coupler and laterally extending projections fo automatically connecting the train pipe hose of the cars carrying said couplers, said connector comprising a bracket securedto said car coupler and positioned therebelow, a member also below said couplerand extending forwardly of said bracket and carrying a coupling head provided with suitable guiding means. a pro ection on said member which pro ection bears against said bracket. and a spring acting against said projection to hold it against said bracket with sufficient force to cause said car coupler to be shifted into aline nent with a mating coupler when said guiding means engage on a cur-Ye.

8. file combination with a car coupler, of an automatic train pipe connector for alining said coupler with a mating coupler and for automatically connecting the train pipe hose of the cars carrying said couplers, said connector comprising a bracket secured to saidcar coupler and positioned therebelow, a member also positioned below said coupler and extending through'said bracket and forwardly thereof and carryingfla coupling head provided with suitable guiding means, ,on said bracket whereby the lateral width of the base of the bracket -is greater than theyertical width. lateral projecting flanges on said member whereby the lateral width of one end of the member is greater than the vertical width thereof. a .stem extending rearwardly of said bracket and said flanges and carrying a-t'its rear end an abutment,

e train pipe and a spring interposed between said abutment and said flanges forholdin said flanges against said projections wit suflicientforce to cause said car coupler .to be shifted into alinement' with a mating coupler when said guiding means engage on a curve.

9. The combination with a car coupler, of

an. automatic train ipe connector for alining said coupler Wit a matin coupler and for automatically connecting 51c train pipe hose of the cars carrying said couplers, saidconnector comprising suitable guiding means, a member yieldable universally relative to said car coupler, when the coupler is engaged with, a mating coupler and by which said guidingmeans are carried, means for resisting, when said'car coupler is uncoupled, the lateral movement of said member sufficientlyv to cause the coupler to be shifted into alinement with said mating coupler when said guiding means engage on a curve, a fluid conduit'connected with said coupling head, and a flexible pipe for connecting said conduit with the train pipe of the car.

10. The combination with a car coupler, of means for automatically alining saidcoupler with a mating coupler, said means comprising suitable guiding prongs positioned below said car coupler and extending forwardly and clivergmg laterally thereof, a

yielda-ble support for said guiding meansfreely movable relative to the bracket when the car coupler is engaged with a mating coupler, and means for resisting, when said car coupler is uncoupled, the lateral movementof said. support relative to said carcoupler sufliciently to shift the coupler into alinement with said mating coupler when said guiding means engage on a curve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPII' V. ROBINSON. In the presence of B. M. MUTH ARTHURL. RYANT. 

